Haysmers' New Art

Poliahu

During the past year as artists the creative process has been an absolutely essential tool for dealing with our loss and grief. The day after Lunel came out of a coma and was released from the hospital Phil helped her by a few art supplies so she could begin a new journal.

With some of the go-fund-me money gifts, Phil immediately bought wood-working tools. Neither of us stopped creating; we found our emotions were channeled into the healing process of making art -- particularly in response to the enormous loss of our retirement home and 99% of the contents (including our art and art collections.)

Ai La'au  (Forest Eater)

"Moving Through Fear"

During July the Wailoa Center in Hilo, together with Hawaii Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is hosting an exhibit for artists' work specifically related to last year's Kilauea's lava eruption. During this time Lunel has created three journals full of art -- over 400 images in about 400 days; some of these images have been shared in previous blog entries; she has been asked to offer a class in July to share her unique process of  using images combined with quotes, drawings and poems.

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.  Thomas Merton

This last year Phil has been experimenting with his latest tool -- a Japanese carving tool, and with it -- he has created four new bas-relief pieces. Three are directly related to the Hawaiian mythological characters, including Pele, Poliahu (Pele's snow sister) and Ai La'au who was the personage living in Kilauea crater before the arrival of Pele to the Big Island. 

"Deep Water Challenge"

Pele

His last image while more ocean-related still addresses the unusual "voyage" we have made in our lives this last year. The vessel is a traditional Polynesian sailing vessel "Wa-a."

In Living Color!

What a busy month! We've received a few emails checking in on us since we have not created a new blog entry lately -- so here's the scoop!  We've been busy!

Work on the art studio is progressing very well, sheet rock going up this week, railings will be done, and beautiful "Lehua Doors" will be going up soon too.

Lehua Blossom (Lay HU ah)

OK, you say, what are "Lehua Doors" -- well early this year we were surprised by the COLOR of the ohia blossoms as they were such a deep orange/red and were visible from every window in the house.



Phil is making art out of left over scraps of wood from the building project, and has just finished one of Poliahu -- one of Pele's sisters who is associated with the snow on the volcanoes.

Lunel continues to work in her art journals filled with drawings, illustrations, poems
and quotes. She continues to learn about and work with the effects of on-going PTSD symptoms. Working in a densely packed 4' space for over a year, she's thrilled to know the new art studio will be completed soon.

About the knees, since friends are asking: The plan, for now, is prolotherapy injections that admittedly may or may not work. The MRI images for both knees were graphic and depressingly honest, so surgery may be an eventuality. After the year we have been through, it is understandable that another 6-month "recovery" would not be anyone's first choice.

Designing a new lanai (again) that will be adjacent to the house -- when what we had was so beautiful is a challenge, especially remembering all the amazing art that we had placed so strategically.

Phil is getting bids on installing whole-house solar which will include the latest Tesla storage batteries.

Giant Rhubarb

Younger selves in Santa Cruz CA

Lunel is getting information on replacing the wonderful cedar hot tub that we both will be glad to have again.

And then there's Rhubarb for one of Phil's favorite treats -- grows amazing here at 3500 in Volcano

Both of us have experienced a slowing-down we have to acknowledge and honor. The last year of various kinds of trauma and recovery has taken its toll, and although we are enjoying our new home,  it is still NEW as are all the things we are slowly replacing from wedding rings to underwear, from books to art -- as we also acclimate to new cooler weather, new neighborhood and new colorful opportunities.

This week we also celebrated our 33rd anniversary -- goodness 1986 seems like a LONG time ago -- we were a LOT younger!